from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — E Dee’s Cam ($13.80, $6.80, $5.20), denied the Presidential victory last year by Gallo Blue Chip, turned in a winning effort this year in the $114,600 Presidential Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The richest pacer of all time, Gallo Blue Chip, winner of his previous four in a row, faded to seventh in the fifth race feature.

Cheyenne Rei ($4.60, $3.80) was a length back in second, and it was two and three-quarter lengths back to Image of Dawn ($9.80) in third.

E Dee’s Cam paced the mile in 1:51⁴ on a frosty winter night.

“It worked out for us,” said Ron Pierce, who guided E Dee’s Cam to his first win since he captured the $275,000 Graduate Final last May 17. “We floated out from the gate and dropped into the four (hole). We followed and the horse (Life Sizzles) up front got parked out and started to back up. Gallo, the horse to beat, was behind him. I was able to get out and Gallo got caught three-wide around the last turn. In the stretch, I was just worried about holding off Cheyenne Rei. I thought Camcracker would be flying late, too. This horse is just amazing. E Dee’s Cam dropped a suspensory, and they were able to get him back almost as good as he used to. (Trainer) Noel Daley and his team have been great. It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy (owner Adam Victor).”

“We’re just thankful he had a great trip,” said trainer Noel Daley. “Last year we were in front and Gallo Blue Chip caught us. This year we got him back. He (Gallo) had a brutal trip. Things just worked out perfect for us. With that horse (Life Sizzles) getting parked and us being able to get out, leaving Gallo three deep, which was just tough, it paved the way for us.

“He’ll have a little break and get ready for things later,” said Daley. “He’s getting sounder and sounder every week. We’ll just pick out spots for him, only 15 starts a year for him, that’s it.”

E Dee’s Cam, owned by Adam Victor of New York City, the D’Elegance Stable of Florham Park, New Jersey and Carmen Iannacone of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, was making his 92nd career start with a record of 27 wins, 12 seconds and 15 thirds. His earnings have now reached $849,967.

Gallo Blue Chip, $4.2 million earner, was denied his second Presidential victory and suffered his first loss in four starts this year.

“I followed up three-wide, and I lost some momentum,” said Daniel Dube, the driver of Gallo Blue Chip. “Then I got stuck out there. It was just a bad trip.”

“It was just a mess,” said Mark Ford, the trainer of Gallo Blue Chip. “The horse was just parked out and that just stinks. It didn’t work out for us tonight. There was not much he could do. It’s an awfully tough night to be going three-wide around the last turn.”

In the co-featured sixth race, the $90,000 Complex Series, 28-1 Riptide Hall ($59.80, $32.20, $8.40) posted a length and a half victory over Casimir Camotion ($9.80, $3.20) in 1:54¹. Joshua ($3.20) was two lengths back in third. Token Favorite, the 3-2 public choice, was fifth.

“This is the case of the right place and the right time,” said Howard Parker, who drove Riptide Hall for owner-trainer Ronald Knigge of Paterson, New Jersey. “He’s a good horse. He tripped out. The best horse in the race, the favorite, Token Favorite, got caught first over. They battled a little up front, and I was third over and in a good spot and just caught them in the final sixteenth.”

“We claimed the horse for $62,500 last April, and he’s made that back and more,” said Ashley Knigge, who cares for Riptide Hall. “He’s a nice horse to be around but a very strong walker. If you’re walking him, you’d better hold on tight.”

The winner’s share of $45,000 pushed the five-year-old son of Cambest to $211,036 in career earnings.